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THE ^RT 



OF 



SHOOTING. 




By C. a. DAMON, 

PROFESSIONAL RIFLE AND PISTOL SHOT, 

FENTON, MICH, 



j^ENTON Independent f^RESSEs. 
1892. 






INTRODUCTION. 



In writing this book it has been my object to make it inter- 
•esting and instructive to both the casual reader and the shoot- 
ing man. Whether you shoot occasionally, or are a shooting 
^•crank," I trust that you will be amply repaid by a careful pe- 
rusal of these pages. This is not intended as a book of ref er- 
-ence for expert shooters, but rather a general instructor to the 
•ordinary shooter and to those who wish to acquire the art. 
The requirements of this book already exist, and I have tried 
to write the book to fit these requirements. It must be suffi- 
ciently interesting to hold the casual reader, enough in detail 
•to be a practical instructor to the novice, and still not enter 
into so many minute points as to be distasteful to the fastidi- 
.ous or educated shooter. 

I am much indebted to ''Shooting and Fishing," of Boston, 
and its gentlemanly editor, for observations of other shooters 
as well as the idea of writing a book on this subject. The sci- 
ence of making, loading, holding, and firing, both rifle and pis- 
tol, is more fully covered in ''Modern American Rifle and Pis- 
iol" than Is necessary in a work of this nature. Besides it is 
my intention to handle the subject merely from a professional 
standpoint, not as a source of income, but as a source of un- 
limited pleasure and instruction. 

One cannot become proficient in any art without there is a 
natural aptitude in that direction, and a certain amount of 
pleasure and fascination is derived from encountering unfor- 
^een and almost insurmountable obstacles. Then one's pride 
iand ambition are always pushing us forward and are respon- 



sible for one's advancement and success. In shooting, as io 
everything else, one gets along swimmingly to a given pointy 
beyond which all progress seems to be impossible, but after 
a few weeks or months of careful and intelligent practice, you 
can look back and see a marked improvement. That is the 
time when you actually begin to advance, as anyone can ac- 
quire what came to you so readily, and what seems to be so 
easy for a professional shooter, was acquired only through 
hard work and constant practice. I spoke advisedly when I 
said "intelligent practice," as it will not benefit you in the 
least to go out and fire hundreds of shots every day, if you do 
not study and think of each shot, and if you miss, stop and try- 
to reason out why you missed. Should you hit, it is more 
necessary still for you to know why you did so, or you will 
have no idea where to hold to hit again. This applies to all 
kinds of shooting — Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun, both at station- 
ary and moving objects. 

I shall try and put my ideas before you just as if you had 
never fired a gun and came to me for a course of instruc- 
tion, the same • as you would do to become a musician or to 
learn some other art where the eye and the hand must be 
trained to act in unison. 

In handling firearms, great care must be exercised to guard 
against any accident, either to yourself or anyone else, espec- 
ially your assistant. Always handle any firearm as if it was- 
loaded, and never allow a gun to be pointed towards anyone. 
Hundreds of people are killed or maimed for life every year 
by guns that "wasn't loaded." Teach those who are in your 
company, either male or female, to handle firearms intelligent- 
ly, thereby insuring themselves and others against accident. 
Never leave a loaded gun around the house where anyone can 
CDme to harm by it. Never have a shotgun with less than four 
pound trigger pull, as it is sure to be dangerous if handled by 



anyone unacquainted with it. Then it is liable to jar off on 
iiring the other barrel, if you have both barrels cocked. Xever 
carry a gun cocked while hunting as it is dangerous in the ex- 
treme, and if you have a hammerless, keep it ''safe," and prac- 
tice moving slide or cocking the piece while bringing it to the 
shoulder. 

Do not murder innocent birds or animals merely to gratify 
vour taste for blood, or a cruel desire to take life. There is a 
plenty of vermin and birds of prey to practice on. Never kill 
more game than you can use, or kill game while it is sitting. 
It is more sportsmanlike to kill game while flying or running 
and it gives the game an equal chance of life, besides showing 
the superiority of man's ingenuity and skill over the powers of 
self preservation with which nature has provided all living 
things. 

This chapter can be put into practice without any cash out- 
lay; but if you would go farther, you must make up your mind 
to part with some money, and the end will not come until you 
either leave this world of sorrow and woe, or give up your fa- 
vorite amusement. 




GUNPOWDER, 



This is an article which has contributed to a greater extent 
than most people imagine towards the prosperity of this coun- 
try ; it having taken the lead in levelling and cutting for rail- 
ways, tunnels, canals, aqueducts, parks, and driveways, as well 
as for the most effective service in large and small cannon, ri- 
fles, pistols, bombs, torpedoes, and signal lights by the army 
and navy; for long distance line throwing by the Life Saving 
Service, and by fire-works makers for high soaring rockets and 
special exhibition pieces. 

It has been a necessity with frontiersmen and cowboys, and 
a God-send to an Indian when he captured any. Powder is 
solely responsible for the disappearance of game, and the ap- 
pearance of game laws, and occupies a leading position in rifle- 
practice, trap, and live bird shooting, as well as in forest and" 
field sports. 

In an early day we depended on England for our powder,, 
but to-day we ship powder all over the world and America 
stands ahead in its manufacture. Instead of trying to see- 
how cheap it can be made, as in some other lines of manufac- 
ture, each mill is trying to excel all others in quality, evennes& 
and a clean burning powder. In black powder Hazard's takes 
the lead ; is clean, strong, and can be had in all grades for pis- 
tol, rifle and gun. In nitrous powders, the American Wood is 
the best; is perfectly safe, clean, gives little report and almost 
no smoke. I have used it in the theatres and the noise or 
smell from three drahms was not disagreeable, while Schultz'' 
would drive the people out of the house with the stench and 
set the scenery on fire at forty feet, and we had to discontinue 
the use of it on these occasions, and forbid those who competed^ 
with us from using it. 



SELECTING A SHOTGUN. 



In the first place, a shotgun or rifle must be selected to suit 
your requirements, and no one can pick out a gun to fit you. 
A friend may advise you and be of great help, but buying a 
gun is like buying a suit of clothes, in more ways than one. 
A perfect "fit'' is an absolute necessity and can generally be 
had in '^ready made," but can be made to order if preferred. 
Get as straight a stock as you can use conveniently, as it will 
give you better satisfaction in the long run and you can shoot 
it much quicker than a three inch drop, also the recoil will not 
be as noticeable, although it is there and can only be overcoD:e 
by light loads or nitrous powder. When you huve decided on 
the price you can afPord to pay for a gun, try bringing Ihem 
up to your shoulder and aiming at some convenient object. 
Select a gun that you can bring to the shoulder, place the heel 
plate well in on the collar bone and aim, without stretching 
your neck or ducking your head. In short, stand and shoot as 
naturally and gracefully as possible and imitate the desirable 
features of other shooter's positions. Should it be more nat- 
ural to shoot left handed, keep it up as it is just as good as 
any position and will save you time in learning to be right- 
handed. If you are left handed, your left eye will be the 
stronger and will help you materially in quick and accurate 
shooting. Do not use a nickel plated gun as it will scare the 
game by the glisten of the sun shining upon it. 

The idea of a 10 lb. 10 G, is a thing of the past and is not 
suitable for anything except wild fowl shooting where very 
long shots must be made and heavy charges used, and to shoot 
deer with buckshot when the brush is too thick to use a rifie 
successfully, and then a 12 G vvill do just as well. Neither is 



8 

it advisable to go to the other extreme and get a featherweight 
as they will soon shake to pieces, unless you pay a good round 
sum for them. Then the recoil is much more in a light arm. 

I got more real pleasure out of a 5J lb, 20 G than any other 
gun I ever owned, but would not recommend it for the average 
shooter on account of the light charge, [2 J dr. and | oz. shot], 
which gave a very small killing circle, A 7 or 7|^ lb. or 14 or 
16 G, or a 7J to 8 lb. 12 G, will give better results, kill all the 
game you are likely to get within good shooting distance of. 
and will be plenty heavy enough to carry all day. 

The smaller bore your gun is, the more cartridges you can 
carry without inconvenience, which is quite an object. 

A cheap gun is poor property under any circumstances, and 
it is not advisable to put a large amount of money into one 
gun, as it will depreciate in value at least one fourth after the 
first season's use, no matter how careful you maybe of it. 
Should your high priced gun not suit you for any reason and 
you wish to sell it, the cash loss would be as much as a good 
machine made gun would cost If you bought a cheap gun 
and wanted to sell it, you will have a hundred chances where 
you would not have one to sell a high priced one and the de- 
preciation at the same per cent of money invested would be 
only a trifle. If a man can afford to buy a good gun and pay 
$200.00 or so for it, I should say get the best by all means, but 
the forgoing remarks are for the average shooter. 

A good machine made xlmerican gun can be had from $20.00 
up to suit your pocketbook. Get an American made gun by 
all means, as you can get a better quality and much better 
/ shooting arm of home manufacture than can be bought for the 
same price in imported goods. Then the matter of repairs, if 
any are ever required, can be easily attended to by mail, while 
if you have an imported gun, it is a case of calling on a skill- 



9 

fui gunsmith who must make the part by hand, at five times 
the expense of machine made parts. The system of choke 
boring in use among English makers of low ?grade guns is not 
much better than a cylinder bore of American make. You will 
have to put SI50 00 or $200.00 into an English gun to get a 
perfect weapon and then a §25.00 American machine made 
gun will shoot just as close and hard as your high priced arm. 
I know this from experience. You are merely putting the ex- 
tra money into outside finish and the name of some old Eng- 
lish maker. Even if you want a high priced gun, get an Amer- 
ican made one, as at the same price home productions can dis- 
count European work in design, appearance, balance, fit and 
shooting qualities. There was a time in the infancy of the 
iirearms industry in America, when English guns were super- 
ior to domestic productions, but that time is passed. The old- 
est and best known American makers are Parker and Lefever. 
Both are strong, well made arms, hard close shooters, are built 
to any weight or measure and at any price from the ordinary 
grade up to $400.00 or over. 

Each gun has its special points or advantages over other 
guns. Each has a style of lock and actio]i of their own and in 
ahammerless, a good lock is much more essential than in a 
hammer gun, as the stroke is shorter in the former and if poor- 
ly made are sure to cause you trouble. The cocking device, 
too, is of great importance and should allow the gun to open 
almost as easy as a hammer gun. In regard to the metal in 
barrels, I should strongly recommend steel, as it is far less 
susceptible to rust, pitting or marking, and makes a much 
tougher barrel than a twist or damascus, will stand more wear 
inside and out, and more bumps and knocks without denting 
than will the softer and more handsome looking barrels. A 
steel barrel if properly choked is there to stay and will not 
gradually expand where the heaviest strain comes, viz.. at the 
nozzle, but as it is an elastic metal it will hold its siz3 and not 



10 

"shoot oi;t," while with any style of a built up barrel of soft 
non-elastic metal, you will find that, after a few years wear, 
the barrel has gradually expanded, and the fine shooting qual- 
lies are gone, to a certain extent. 

Twist and Damascus barrels are merely for the fine outsi-le 
appearance, but are liable to have minute slivers start up, 
which were loosened by the boring tool, an 1 did not show 
when new, which allows rust to get in where you are unable to 
remove it. Result, a pit or mark in your barrel. With a steel 
barrel, which by the way, you can pay as much for as you like 
according to quality, this fault is obviated, as a properly made 
steel barrel has no gr-^in, being a homogeneous metal without 
grain, similar to a lead pipe, with equal powers of resistance 
in ail directions, while any built up barrel has as distinctly de- 
fined a grain as a pine board, and when any undue strain is 
brought to bear, it will open with the grain in nearly every in- 
stance. Occasionally a barrel will tear along the rib, but that 
depends on the cause of the accident. Such accidents are gen- 
erally due to snow or mud in the nozzle, some obstruction in 
the barrel or coins in the shell when fired. Not once in a 
thousand times are such things due to any other cause than 
carelessness, either in taking proper care of the gun,or in load- 
ing your ammunition, although the usual crawl out is 

powder. 

The sight which comes on all shotguns is of very little ac 
count and a Lyman ivory sight should be. fitted to it at once. 
This sight is of great advantage as it can be seen in dark cover 
and after it is quite dark, when a common cross sight would be 
invisible. 



11 



HAMMER OR HAMMERLESS- 



The question of hammer or hammer! ess is purely a matter 
of taste and price and does not either improve or lessen the 
actual shooting qualities of the arm. The poorest shooting 
and most awkward gun I ever owned was an English hammer- 
less. If you are buying a gun for less than $30.00, get a ham- 
mer gun by all means, as the expense of making a hammerless 
lock is much more than a hammer 'ock, consequently the parts 
of the gun are slighted in cheap hammerless arms. If you 
can afford it, buy a good hammerless by all means, if you in- 
tend buying a double gun. 



12 



REPEATING SHOTGUNS. 



If I could have only one shotgun, it would be a repeater, as 
you then have six shots at your command, almost instantly, 
and doubles can be made as readily as with a double gun. 

My assistant throws six blue rocks in the air, three at a time, 
all in the air at once, and I break them all with a repeater 
which is a great deal quicker shooting than it will ever be nec- 
essary to shoot at game. When shooting birds it often occurs 
that a third and fourth shot could be made to great advantage, 
and with a hammerless ejector it is almost an impossibility. 
I have seen six single quails killed at a single rise and most of 
the birds got up at once. Of course everyone cannot expect to 
acquire the knack of handling a repeater as quick as would be 
necessary to shoot six shots at a single rise of birds, but with 
a season's practice, three or four shots should be fired with 
reasonable accuracy, while the game is within a killing range. 
Such a gun can be bought inside of $25.00, is practically a 
hammerless ejector, will outshoot any gun I ever shot at the 
price; and will out wear any double gun of its cost. 

The repeater with lever action is more simple, less liable to 
get out of order and works much more handy than the slide 
action, and it can be held to the shoulder and on a line with 
the game while being worked. 

A. slide action shotgun cannot be held still while being oper- 
ated, and if you hold it to your shoulder by the fore stock, as 
you would a double gun, the action slide will drop back as 
soon as the trigger is pressed, and a misfire is the result every 
time. If you do not hold it tight to your shoulder, the recoil 
will be very unpleasant and the gun will spring up and shoot 



high. Consequently the only secure hold you have is ^Yith 
your right hand (less trigger finger) on the neck of the stock, 
and while operating the mechanism by means of the sliding 
fore end, the muzzle of your gun will describe a circle of from 
6 in. to 2 ft. All this is obviated in a lever action. This theo- 
ry does not necessarily hold good in slide action rifles as the 
action is shorter and the rifle does not require to be held as 
firmly to the shoulder as a shotgun, although it is impossible 
to hold the sights on a small object and work the action of any 
repeating arms. 

With practice, a repeating rifie of 22 calibre can be worked 
and trigger held and 15 shots fired into an inch bullseye at 30 
ft. in 10 seconds. The repeater may not seem quite as sym- 
metrical in appearance or balance when first you try it, but af- 
ter a few weeks it will seem like a part and parcel of yourself, 
and can be operated without a thought. Until you can work 
your gun, sight, and shoot without stopping to think, you will 
never become a good wing shot either with shotgun or rifle. 
I am so accustomed to judge quickly in shooting, that I find 
myself estimating the proper distance to hold ahead of every 
bird that flies past me within shooting distance. By constant 
practice one becomes accustomed to estimate distances, speed 
of flight, etc. of game without a thought. 

Many of my remarks, such as choke boring, drop, trajectory, 
etc., may not be clearly understood by some of my readers who 
are not accustomed to handling firearms, but lack of space for- 
bids my going into detail and teaching you the A B C of shoot- 
ing and also haye you graduate in the art of shooting, all in 
this little book. Many of my readers will be better informed 
on these subjects than I am, and to stop and explain each tech- 
nical expression in detail would become a bore to the experi- 
enced reader and my object would not be attained. 



14 



CARE OF GUNS. 



When you have bought a gun it depends entirely with your- 
self whether it will last and keep its fine appearance and 
shooting qualities or not. Any well made gun will last a man 
a lifetime if properly cared for, but once neglect it and the 
trouble will commence which can never be overcome. 

Neglect to clean a gun properly, leave a little flake of lead 
or burned powder in it, forget to look at it occasionally, or worse 
than all, lend it to your particular friend, and it is on the road 
to ruin. Nothing but a thorough cleaning and oiling will keep 
a barrel bright on the inside. If you use water in cleaning 
your gun, use it boiling hot. If your shotgun is loaded, use a 
brass wire brush, or better, ''acqua ammonia," on a rag, on your 
wiping rod. Rub until clean and dry and oil with sperm, vas- 
eline, or Winchester gun grease. While in the field, if your 
gun or rifle becomes caked with burned powder, give it a bath, 
internally, and go on with your shooting. A little water run 
through a barrel loosens all dirt and the first shot removes it 
and will do no harm. 

A rifle requires much more work to keep clean than a shot- 
gun, and the smaller the bore of the rifle, the more bother you 
w^ill have with it. In cleaning, always use a damp patch first. 
Clean thoroughly, oil and set in a dry, warm, place, and always 
keep a gun in a cloth [or sheepskin, with wool on inside] case. 
Sole leather bags and boxes are good, if you can afford them. 

Never plug the barrels up as the metal is sure to sweat, and 
if there is no escape, moisture will form and rusting commence. 
Keep emery out of your guns under all circumstances. It 
takes an expert gunsmith to use it properly. 



15 

After your gun has been set away two or three days, get it 
out and clean with dry rags and oil again. Repeat this opera- 
tion twice and your gun will not take any harm in a year, but 
don't neglect to look at it occasionally. Fine cleaning tools 
will make your work easy, but elbow grease is the main thing. 
JSome people advocate leaving a gun dirty from shooting, and 
cleaning only when you are ready to use it again. This is a 
wrong idea and should never be tried. Burned powder, if kept 
dry and perfectly air tight will not rust a piece of metal; but 
such conditions are impossible in a gun barrel. The action of 
the atmosphere and moisture contained therein soon cause 
burned powder to undergo a chemical change, the resuU of 
which is an acid and very destructive to iron or steel. 

Aluminum in gun barrels is vjry much an experiment at 
present, but it has several advantages over steel. It is much 
lighter and more rigid than soft steel and is not effected by 
the powder which ruins so many of our barrels now. Steel, 
copper, and aluminum coated balls are an experiment, and their 
use is to keep a ball from flying to pieces or stripping in rifles 
of small calibres, such as the .301 and other military rifles when 
large charges of smokeless powder are used and a high nozzle 
velocity of 2,000 feet a second and upward is obtained from a 
barrel with a 12, 10, or even an 8 inch twist. 

In cleaning a revolver, the cylinder should always be re- 
moved and the notches for cylinder stop should be kept free of 
grease and dirt, as the accuracy of the arm depends to a great 
extent on the proper working of the cylinder stop. 

Never tinker or experiment with a fire:irm because it does 
not suit you. There are plenty of guns and if it does not suit 
you, dispose of it and get another, as life is too short, and 
where experiments are being tried, too uncertain, to try and 
improve either the gun or the ammunitioji. 



16 



Reloading and Cleaning Tools. 



In buying your reloading and cleaning outfit, do notr be tak- 
en in by the nickel plated finish of the tools, or the oily congue 
of the salesman, but choose such tools as it is necessary to 
have, of the best, as they will be the cheapest in the end. 

A priming tool for paper shells should hare a post to slic'e 
the shell over as the head is not strong enough to stand the 
ring tool generally sold. 

For brass shells, the cheap tool will answer. 

The Ideal loading flask is the best thing for measuring pow- 
der, as it will give you an accurate and uniform load from five 
grains to 5 drahms, besides shaking the charge down into the 
smallest possible space. The same company also make a full 
line of reloading tools, resizing dies, and special sizes and 
forms of bullet moulds. Their dipper is an absolute necessity 
to make perfect balls, and their "Hand Book," which they mail 
free, gives many ''pointers," which all shooters should know. 

In running bullets, the same temper should be obtained that 
the factory use. This can be ascertained by referring to the 
factory catalogue, and the proper amount of block tin should 
be added to your load and the metal must be as hot as possible 
without being red, and the moulds also must be perfectly free 
of oil or any other substance and hot enough to "blue." 

Nothing but practice and experience in reloading and shoot- 
ing, can make you successful in reloading your own rifle and 
pistol cartridges. 

For lubricant, use that which the Winchester Co. sell, or 
make it from tallow, parafine and beeswax, of proper hardness 



IT 

to suit the season, but -do not have it too soft at any time of 
the year. 

Each gun company makes reloading tools for their own 
arms, but if you wish an adjustable tool or special mould it 
can be had of the Ideal Co. 

In lubricating bullets, a lubricating pump w^ll save lots of 
work and cramped lingers, besides doing the work much better 
than can be done by hand. 

Where shells are to be used a great many times and with 
light loads, it is advisable to fill the cavity around the primer 
pocket with solder. This must be done before the shells have 
been used or immediately after being thoroughly cleaned. 

Put a drop of tinner's acid and a small piece of solder into 
each shell and set them on a hot stove until the solder flows 
and fills the crease. Do not put too much solder in, or it will 
fill the primer cavity and have to be cut out. This makes a 
shell almost everlasting, saves buying new ones, is not much 
trouble and makes a sure fire. 

To clean brass shells, use ammonia one part and rain water 
three parts, but never use acids, as they kill a shell in a very 
short time. After cleaning, rinse thoroughly in hot water and 
put in a warm place to dry; an oven is best. The primers 
should be removed before the cleaning process. 

When shells become swelled or bent, do not file or hammer 
but use a resizing die. Clean the shells and press home in the 
die with a vice and do not drive the shell in with a hammer. 

The original package of cartridges tells you what size of 
primers to use, and by pullinsr a ball, you can see what grain 
of powder to use in reloading. Fine powder will make a shot- 
gun scatter, because it burns too fast and gives too high ini- 
tial velocity. The same thing will happen in a rifle using a 
large charge. For light loads of 8 or 10 grains in ,32 to .44 re- 
volvers or rifles, the finest grain powder should be used. For 



18 

loads up to 30 grains, use F. F. G., and" for all larger sizes of 
cartridges use F, G. powder. 

Never use a nitrous shotgun powder in a rifle as good re- 
sults cannot be obtained. Nitrous powders are perfectly safe., 
if used according to directions; but if you try experiments 
with it or overload, it is at your own peril. 

A slight increase of charge in black powder merely gives a 
little more recoil and report while an increased load of nitrous- 
powder is liable to become unruly. 

In loading shells, do not try to force too much powder in, 
and seat the ball home, as the powder is crushed and packed 
so tight that good shooting is an impossibility. Then you are 
liable to swell the shells so they will not enter the chambers of 
your rifle, and cause trouble. 

For short range shooting when light report is desirable^ 
light loads and round balls will give good results in most any 
rifle or revolver. 

If the shell is straight, seat the ball on powder, and if a ta- 
per shell, seat ball in mouth of shell and lubricate, leaving the 
8 or 10 grain charge loose in the shell. The great drawback to 
such loads is the excessive fowling. 

For loading Colts, Martin and Winchester model 90 repeat- 
ers, the "Lightning Loading Tube" is of great advantage, es- 
pecially when one is in a hurry or in a gallery when one'^s time 
is valuable. These tubes are of brass throughout, well made^ 
and every one tested. With this tube a repeater can be 
loaded with 15 cartridges in three seconds. The 15 cartridges 
can be loaded into the magazine just as quick and easy as one 
can be put in by hand. 

This tool can be appreciated by anyone who uses a .22 re- 
peater, as it is only 12 in. long and can be carried full, in the 
pocket. There is no spring or rod to get out of order as the 
tool is very simple. This tube is fully protected and can only 
be had of the author, as it is not handled by the gun dealers. 



19 



RELOADING SHOTGUN SHELLS. 



No one can ttll you how to load your gun to get the best 
possible results, as there is just as marked an individuality 
among guns, even of the same make, as there is among men of 
the same nationality. 

You will often see an article in shooting papers in which the 
writer advocates some particular powder, wad, shell or style of 
loading, as the only one on the market worth using. 

He has simply found out the most favorable conditions for 
securing the best possible results for one individual gun and 
thinks it will give the same results in any gun. It may suit 
your gun and it may not. Try it and see if it is any improve- 
ment. 

In reloading shells in damp weather be careful and dry the 
shells on the inside as they will be moist and that will deterior- 
ate your powder and on unloading a misfire you will find the 
shell full of paste instead of powder. 

Never try any experiments in shooting buckshot, shot con- 
centrators, solid balls or wire cartridges in a choke bored gun,^ 
but use a good safe load of loose shot crimped well down so 
that the shot will not rattle. The men who made your gun 
and ammunition knew a great deal more about the business 
than you do or ever will, as they have expended many thous- 
ands of dollars in experiments and when you buy a good grade 
of goods you get the benefit. 

Get good powder and do not be saving of your wadding. I 
would rather sacrifice both powder and shot than scrimp the 
wadding. 



20 

Three drachms and one ounce is a ^ood load for a 12 gauge 
gun, and one drachm and | more shot is sufficient for a 10 g. 

I once owned a 5J lb. 20 g. and it was a splendid shooting 
gun with 2 dr. and | oz. No. 8 shot, but would not shoot any 
other size satisfactorily. 

A gun may shoot one size of shot extremely close and even 
and not be of use with other sizes, but if it shoots 6 S. well, it 
will generally shoot all even numbers of shot well. The same 
applies to odd sizes. 

After seating your primers well down, put in a uniform load 
of powder and a cardboard wad on top of it. Seat this wad 
well down with rammer and mallet, if you are using black pow- 
der, but if using any nitrous powder, follow instructions on the 
package, and use double strength primers. Now put down a f 
in. felt or two common black edge wads and another cardboard 
on top, and press firmly so that no space is between any of the 
wads. Not that space is dangerous, but you will need it for 
your shot and crimp, and if any was left, the wadding might 
allow the shot to rattle after your work was done. 

See that your wadding is even and level or else your charge 
of shot will go out on the same angle and scatter. 

By having a solid cardboard each side of your elastic felt 
wadding, you get the impetus of the powder explosion behind 
the wadding and the resistance of the shot ahead of it, which 
•causes the wads to expand and form a gas tight joint so that 
all the energy of the explosion is utilized. 

On top of your shot load, place a regular shot wad if it is to 
be had, as it goes to pieces immediately on leaving the muzzle 
of the gun. 

If this wad is not to be had, split a felt wad and put the cut 
side next the shot and crimp tight so* that the shot cannot rat- 
tle. The load may be varied for different shooting, and when 
a satisfactory load is found, stick to it. 



21 

For short range shooting, when a large killing circle is re- 
quired, the best results are obtained by overloading with shot 
and using a heavy wad on top of shot. 

Lubricant is just as necessary on the edges of these wads as 
it is on a bullet, and for the same purpose, viz., to lessen fric- 
tion, leave a smooth, oily surface for succeeding charges to pass 
over and to prevent leading and excessive fowling. 




22 



TRAP SHOOTING. 



Trap&hootiDg is a pleasant and manly amusement and is the 
best manner to acquire the knack of quick and effective hand- 
ling of a gun. While a man may become a tine trap shot and 
may be a very ordinary game shot, or vice vera, it is very ex- 
traordinary to see a man who is an expert c t both kinds of 
shooting. 

A man generally prefers one kind of shooting and that is 
what he will excel in, and as it is a matter of pastime and 
amusement only, it is advisable to stick to the one which yields 
the most pleasure. 

From a financial standpoint, trap shooting is like horse rac- 
ing in more ways than one, and the best shots do not always 
come out a winner. 



23 



THE RIFLE. 



The rifle, and its numerous attachments, represent man's 
highest mechanical achievements. It has taken a more prom- 
inent part in opening up new countries, destroying dangerous 
animals, subduing hostile men, both civilized and uncivilized, 
and in providing food and amusement than any other weapon. 
It is sensitive to the slightest defect or carelessness in holding, 
sighting, judgment or loading. 

The possibilities of a fine rifle is something wonderful and 
the amount of pleasure to be derived from a true rifle cannot 
be estimated. 

The long range rifle I am not able to discuss, as I have nev- 
■er shot over 200 yards and only a limited number of shots at 
that distance. 

In writing this book it has been my intention to write of my 
own experience and observation, and not to resort to other 
people's experience or theories. 

No one man can become equally proficient in all branches of 
rifle, pistol and shotgun shooting, and a man who is a good all- 
round shot and can hold his own in all branches with the aver- 
age shooter in each of the different clubs, is a phenominal shot. 
truch a man I have never yet seen, and probably never will. 

One becomes accustomed to the weight, hang, pull, sights, 
recoil and trajectory of a rifle, besides going through the mo- 
tions of reloading without a thought, and on taking up a new 
rifle he has it all to learn over again. 

By constant shooting and a large variety of guns to use, one 
222ay becom3 broken in so that he can sho3t with most any 



24 

gun, but will have hiy favorites for different kinds of w^ork. 

We will allow you to pick out the action of a rifle which 
pleases you best and fits 3'ou. 

The most popular rifles are the Winchester, Colts and Mar- 
lin, which are made in all sizes from 22 to 50 calibre and suita- 
ble for all kinds of shooting. 

Do not get too long a stock on a repeater as you cannot work. 
the lever without taking the gun from your shoulder. 

A single shot costs less and will cost you less for ammuni 
tion, as you will take more pains with each shot than if you 
had fourteen more ready to be pumped out. A sinscle shot is 
less liable to break down, as there are fewer pieces, and more 
shots can be fired in five minutes with a single shot than with 
a repeater. Also 50 shots can be tired quicker and more ac- 
curate with a single shot than with a repeater. 

Several things are required in a cartridge; accuracy, flat tra- 
jectory and killing power, and if one only of these points is re- 
quired the others must be sacrificed. 

A. 

Accuracy requires a heavy ball, weighing about 5 times as- 
much as the powder charge, as the following target cartridges 
will show: 32 cal., 40 gr. powder, 185 gr. ball. 38— 55— 255, 
40—50-265. 40—70-330. 44—105—520. 

These are all paper patched balls and for target shooting on- 
ly, and the barrel must be wiped after each shot. 

B. 

Flat trajectory requires a very light ball and the high speed 
attained gives it the name of Express, 

Also a hollow pointed bullet is an express and may have- an. 
explosive primer put in the ball if desired. 

The hollow pointed ball goes to pieces on striking a bone^ 
and the explosive ball acts like a miniature bombshell inside 
of dangerous game. 



25 

Such a rifle has a very flat trajectory up to one hundred and 
fifty yards, but beyond two hundred yards the accuracy is 
gone and the drop of bullet is very fast. 

When a ball of this class had become perfectly useless the 
ball in class A. would be flying steadily on its course. 

A 40—110—260, or a 45—125—300 express, have less than 10 
inches trajectory at 2C0 yards and the smashing powers are 
somothing terrible. 

The 38—55—255 has a 14 inch curve, and the 45—70—405 
has just a foot at the same distance and much more accuracy. 

Here we have the two extremes, high curve and accuracy at 
long ranges, even up to 1000 yards, and flat, rapid flight to 200 
yards and useless beyond that range. 

The first are good only for target shooting at known dis- 
tances and the liitter for game shooting where no time can be 
taken to adjust sights, and a shot is seldom fired at over 150 
yards. 

C. 

I have given you the two extremes, which are the height of 
perfection for what they are intended, and now will give a list 
of cartridges which are more likely to meet the requirements 
of the average shooter : 25-20-77, 32^0-165, 38-56-255, 40-65 
-260, 40-82-260, 45-75-350. 

These rifies are accurate enough for hunting, will keep ten 
shots on an eight inch spot at 200 yards, have good penetra- 
tion and the recoil is not excessive. 

Never think of buying a rifle larger than .22 that shoots a 
rim fire cartridge, as the expense of ammunition will more than 
overbalance the saving in price of the arm. 

If you want a nice little rifle to shoot squirrel and for snap 
shooting, get a .22, if for hunting small game and should you 
want to kill a lame horse or occasionally a bull, the .25 will do 
the work, if you are a marksman, if not, a .32-40 will be more 
effective. 



26 

If you are going into a deer country do not stop short of the 
,40-82 or 45-75, and you will not nciiss it with either of them. 

-Vn express is not worth a cent in brush shooting, as a twig 
no larger than a straw will send your bullet wild, but it is the 
proper thing in an open country. Many northern and wertern 
hunters use an S. S. of large calibre and carry three shells be- 
tween the fingers of the left hand and can fire four shots with 
accuracy nearly as quick as with a repeater. 

When shooting, great care should be taken to avoid sending 
balls singing in all directions, as a ball cannot be accounted 
for after striking any obstruction or even water. It never 
continues on its original course, and is liable to do damage 
in any populated country. 

The ideal combination, all round rifle and shotgun suitable 
to shoot anything from a humming bird to a grizzly, has never 
yet been made and never will be. Such guns exist only in the 
addled brain of some sporting paper correspondent. 

If you have a variety of shooting, you must have a variety of 
guns. If you cannot afford the guns, then you must get one 
which nearest fills the bill for all your requirements and get 
along with it. 

For such a rifle, the .25 is at the head, and in a shotgun a 14 
or 12 g. of light weight will do good service. 

One combination which has been a great source of pleasure 
to me is a good gun and a bicycle. 

The rifle case can be strapped on the wheel so as not to rattle 
and be out of the way and can be easily withdrawn. 

With a wheel you can hunt over more country and do it easier 
than in any other way. 

Another essential thing for every shooting man to do is to 
subscribe for a good shooting paper. 

I don't mean a "sporting" paper that you would be ashamed 
to allow your wife or sister to read, but a Sportsman's paper, 



27 

'Ahich they will Ico^ forward to with Just as keen an interest as 
yourself. 

They may not read all the adds as you will ; but will thorough- 
ly enjoy it. 

For a rifle shooter, Shooting and Fishing, of Boston, will 
give you the most useful information. But if you are interest- 
ed in dogs etc.. try the American Field, cf Chicago. 



COMBINATION GUNS. 



The only practical combination gun is the double gun, one 
barrel shotgun and one rifle; as the three barrel gun is sure to 
be set wrong and requires too much manipulation. 

The double rifle is not practical, as one which shoots its two 
balls parallel is very rare and I never happened to see one. 
Even if it was perfect, a repeater is better, as when the double 
gun is empty it is useless, and a repeater will shoot fifteen 
times as rapid as the double gun will two. 

I once saw a repeating 12 g. rifle being made by the ^Vin- 
chester Company for a British officer in India for elejjhant 
and tiger shooting, and it was as fine a weapon as any one 
could require for such a purpose. It was built on their shot- 
gun frame, and used paper shells with 6 dr. of powder and an 
ounce explosive ball. 



28 



Pocket Rifles. 



Pocket rilies are loDg barreled pistols with a skeleton stock 
which may be readily detached. 

Excellent scores have been made at two hundred yards with 
.22 loEg rifle and .25 cartridges in a 12 or 18 inch barrel. 

It makes a handy arm to carry in a satchel or can' be readily 
carried in the pocket. 

Pocket rifles come under the head of pistols as some are used 
as both rifle and pistol by merely putting on or taking off the 
stock. 

With an 18 io. barrel using the .25 cartridge, Ave shots have 
been put in a four inch ring and ten shots in an eight inch 
ring at 200 yards, shot at a rest. 

This is good shooting, even for a rifle in the hands of an or 
dinary marksman. 

No sportsman's outfit is complete without a pocket rifle. 



29 



Revolver and Pistol. 



The revolver is an American invention and thus far we have 
succeeded in keeping the championship with this weapon among 
our own countrymen. 

It is very vahiable as a weapon of self-defense and in times 
of war as a weapon of offense. 

Revolver and pistol shooting is a distinct branch of the art 
and requires more practice and experience to become even an 
ordinary shot than to become proficient in any other branch. 

It is the highest possible attainment to be able to do good 
all around pistol work at short and long range target work 
and at game and snap shooting. 

Target and game shooting with a pistol are as much differ- 
pnt as trap or game shooting with a shotgun. 

As a pastime and amusement for ladies and gentlemen, pis- 
tol shooting is bound to hold a place which nothing else can 
fill. 

Your lady friends will enjoy the sport as well as yourself if 
you have a good weapon and take pains in showing them how 
to aim and pull the trigger and if you are not careful to keep 
in practice, they will outshoot you in a week's time. 

A lady who once makes up her mind to learn to shoot, and 
takes pleasure in it, will become a good shot in less time than 
any man, if she has a painstaking, intelligent instructor. 

In teaching one to aim a rifle or pistol, there is nothing as 
good as a rough pencil sketch showing front and rear sight and 
bulPs-eye above so that top of front sight is just even with 
xiotch in rear sight and aiming at six o'clock on the target. 



30 

The term of time of day in target shooting applies as if j'ou 
were aiming at a clock dial. Twelve is top, three is right hand^ 
six at the bottom, nine to the left, etc. 

The first thing to consider is what calibre and weight of an 
arm you want, and that is to be governed by the expense of am- 
munition, facilities to shoot at short or long range and whether 
the recoil is liable to overbalance the pleasure to be derived, 
and whether the noise is liable to become a nuisance to others 
or disagreeable to yourself. 

The .22 short will do good work at ten to twelve yards, but 
the long rifle cartridge, or Winchester Rifle will outshoot it at 
any distance and cost more, 

A .25 E. F. cartridge is a very fine one for fifty yard work, is 
clean, has a low trajectory and enormous penetration for fo 
small a size, but is very expensive. 

Next comes the .32 and .38 S. and \V, cartridge and the 
full grown .44 S. & W,, Russian model which is recognized 
the world over as a military and target cartridge. 

The last three have straight shells and admit of a light load 
if desired. This gives you quite a variety of shooting with 
only one arm. 

The .44 meets my requirements and gives me better satis- 
faction than any other size, as it is easier to keep clean, can be 
used with 8 grains of powder and a 120 gr, round or conical 
ball. This does not recoil in the least and is accurate up to 
10 yds. but beyond that, the trajectory is too much for accu- 
racy and more powder must be used. 

A 10 gr. load with same ball will do excellent work at 20 yds, 
and also kill small game. 

Then if you wish to do 50 yard work you have a weapon 
capable of making the possible, viz. 6 shots in a 3 in. ring, 
although you may not be able to hold it so as to secure a 
bullseye, in a dozen shots when you commence. 



31 

Notwithstanding the great number of so called "revolvers" 
made in this countrv, there are bat two recognized makes of 
first class w^eapons. — the Smith & Wesson and the Colts. The 
former is preferred by many amateurs and experts on account 
of its ease of manipulation and more symetrical appearance, 
and for some time it was the only make that had target sights 
fittted to it at the factory, and it has held the world's cham- 
pionship for years as a target revolver. 

The colt has a solid frame and will stand more hard knocks 
and abuse than its cousin, the S. ^ W., consequently, it is 
preferred by the western people, cowboys, etc. 

Again, the Colts is susceptible of that kind of shooting 
known as "fanning" which is holding the trigger and striiung 
the hammer with the hand, while the S. & W. cannot be cocked 
while the trigger is held back. An expert can fire six shots 
from a single action revolver in less time than it is possible to 
shoot a double action revolver the same number of shots. 

These different features have their advantages and disad- 
vantages in both arms ; but for the work for which they were 
designed, both are as near perfect as it is possible to make a 
revolver. 

The Colts have a .38 and .41 with solid frame and the cylin- 
der swings out on a crane and can be emptied and reload- 
ed almost instantly. 

I had the pleasure of shooting No. 1 of this pattern, which 
was a hand made revolver for a pattern and it was a superb 
shooting and working weapon . 

In shooting a revolver, aim as with a rifie, at 6 o'clock. Do 
not grip the handle too tightly as it will make you tremble, but 
always hold with the same pressure. Press the i rigger gently 
until it is nearly to the firing pressure, as you are moving your 
sights up the target, and at the right instant apply the pres- 
sure required to fire the arm, but do not Jerk the trigger as it 
will throw you off. 



32 

After shooting a month or two do not get discouraged be- 
cause you cannot equal the scores published in the shooting 
papers, as they are either the work of professionals or araa- 
teurs who devote themselves exclusively to this branch of 
shooting, or a scratch score which could not be duplicated in a 
lifetime. 

Another class of phenominal scores are pure and simple lies, 
I know of one man whose scores and targets have appeared 
from time to time in sportsmen's papers, purporting to have 
been made at a regulation distance and target, when I know 
that the man is not capable of any such work, as I have seen 
him shoot his best, 

Such people generally get brought up in the long run and 
I have had the pleasure of calling several of them down and 
shall continue to do so whenever the opportunity offers. 

The above does not apply alone to pistol shooting but to all 
branches. Like all other sports, shooting is indulged in by all 
classes in this free country, and a small percentage of the 
'•sporting-man" element has crept in ; but if a man wants to 
know the meaning of "hospitality and courtesy," let him be a 
good shot and go into any town or village in America, be gen- 
tlemanly and decent and look up the right party or club, make 
himself known and show his ability, and he will be treated as 
well as it is possible to treat a fellow being. 

There is a good fellowship among shooting men that does 
not exist among any other class, be they either ri(5h or poor. 

The remarks on revolver shooting cover the ground on pistol 
shooting except as to the different makes, as revolver makers 
do not make pistols, with one exception. 



^)0 



SIGHTS. 



In rifle shooting the sights are a very important feature and 
those furnished on the riiie as it comes from the factory are 
-generally very crude affairs. The quickest sight to catch is a 
perfectly flat bar with a half round notch. This can be made 
by filing the original sigat down flat and reducing the 
breadth also. 

For a front sight the Lyman hunting sight is the best thing. 
If you want a peep sight, Lyman's again comes to the front 
with the best thing on the market ; but always use the large 
aperture as it is much clearer and just as accurate as the 
smaller one. 

The flat bar and ivory bead are best for pistol and revolver 
shooting. 

For shooting at any distance with peep sight, a wind guage 
is desirable and Lyman is simply perfection as you ean have 
the large aperture with light ring around, or the wheel as 
on any peep sight. 

A rifle should be sighted so that by holding a tine sight at the 
bottom edge of builseye at your shortest range shooting (20 
yds. for .22, and 50 yds. with hunting rifles) the ball will hit 
the center of the builseye, then you will not have to elevate 
your sights for double the distance, but merely hold ^'dead on'' 
at anything up to double the distance you are sighted at. 

Beyond this distance you must know the trajectory of your 
rifle, and if the distance is not known, you must estimate as 
nearly as possible and adjust your sights accordingly. 

Set your rear sight in the center of barrel and bring your 
rifle to shoot into line by driving the front sight. 

If your rifle shoots to the right drive your front sight to the 



34 

right If to the left, reverse the operation. Should your rifle 
shoot too high when a very fine sight is seen, the back sight 
must be lowered, and if too low, file off top of front sight. 

Great care must be used in driving the sights, as your bar- 
rel may be ruined by carelessly driving a sight. 

When a sight has been filed or has worn bright remove it, 
polish bright, pack in a tin box filled with leather scraps, put 
the cover on the box and burn in the stove until it quits smok- 
ing, then take off the fire and drop into a bucket of water. 
This will put on a dark blue and a very thin case harden. 

When your rifle is sighted perfectly, take a very fine cold 
chisel and mark the sights and barrel so that the slightest 
variation can be noticed and corrected without the trouble of 
shooting and driving sights. 

If you prefer an open sight, get one which is flat on top with 
a half round notch. 

The V shaped notch is an abomination, as are the buck horn 
rear sights which are of no benefit and only obstruct the vis- 
ion. 

Manufacturers make what the greatest demand calls for, 
and as the present demand is for a cheap arm, they must meet 
it, and in doing so something must be sacrificed. 

For iheir own interests, the shooting qualities are kept as 
good as possible and the remaining parts are made with an 
eye to strength and cheapness, consequently the awkward 
stocks and poor balance of cheap guns. But if you will put 
sufficient money into any make of arms you will find them 
poems of grace and symetry. 

Unless you have shot with a telescope sight, you never have 
realized what rifle shooting is. There is a great amount of 
pleasure in watching a woodchuck or squirrel wink, at 50 or 
100 yds. and know that by pressing the trigger you can kill 
as sure as if he were within 20 ft. of you. 

When one learns to understand the trajectory of his rifle 



35 

and estimate distances it is very little trouble to shoot small 
game at 200 yds. with a telescope sight, as the glass helps you 
to Und the game, aim at it and spot your shots so you know 
whether another shot is necessary or not. 

For general shooting at all kinds of small game and vermin 
a .25 20 with telescope is the height of perfection. 

The Mog^s tele.-cope is the best as it is made of a solid 
drawn steel tube and not liable to get out of order or get bent. 



SHOOTING CLOTHES. 



If you have not a partly worn grey business suit to use as a 
shooting suit, a dead grass colored corduroy shooting suit will 
give you the best service at a reasonable price. 

They should not lit tightly anywhere and especially at the 
arm holes. Have large solid pockets as they are much more 
convenient than a cartridge belt and will carry your ammuni- 
tion with more ease than having all the weight on the hips. 

For upland shooting, a good pair of shooting shoes well 
hob nailed, lacing at instep and on the side,will be comfortable 
and will keep you dry in slush or snow. 

For ducking or woodcock shooting, a light hip rubber is the 
thing. Wear a soft hat of the same material as suit and never 
get a double ended helmet as it is no protection to your f ace- 
and runs the rain down your neck. Because a man is out. 
shooting it is not necessary for him to be dressed like a trampv 
and look so that he is ashamed to go to a farmer's house to din- 
ner. 

If a man exercises common sense and behaves as a gentleman 
should, he will never get turned oil from a farm, except the 
occasional crank which you are bound to meet in all walks of 
life, and with a little tact, even he can be managed. 



36 



SNAP SHOOTING. 



Snap shooting is hitting objects on the move, with a solid 
BALL, either from a rifle or pistol. 

Shooting with shot cartridges is not snap shooting, but de- 
ceiviag the people. 

All horseback shooting at balls, etc., tossed in the air is done 
with shot, as no man living can hit often enough with a ball 
to make an interesting exhibition. 

The American people want to be humbugged and they are 
not satisfied without they think someone is being nearly kill- 
ed for their amusement. Consequently we have the holding 
and head shots and the cigar shot, as we must please the peo- 
ple, to draw our salary. 

Although many of my shots look very dangerous, I guard 
against all accidents and use all the precautions possible, look 
carefully to guns and amunition, use a helmet for the- head 
shots etc., reducing actual danger to a minimum. 

The first thing necessary for snap shooting is a .22 repeat- 
ing rifle and one with the "left hand" or fore end action is 
preferable as you can work it with more speed in double and 
treble shots, etc. 

A Raub trap and 500 card board targets which are good for 
10,000 shots is the next thing. 

To begin with, the targets should be thrown 10 or 12 ft. 
high and the shooter stand about 15 ft. away and try to shoot 
3 or 4 inches under the target, after it has started down. 

No one can hit the target with any regularity, as it is turn- 
ing, as the space of time is too short and in throwing the rifle 
up, you will throw it above and shoot too high. 



37 

Throw the rifle up as soon as the target goes up, and follow 
it until the target is nearly ready to stop. Stop the 
rifle about one foot below where you think the target will turn 
and directly in its path coming down and shoot when it is 2 or 
3 inches above your sights. 

Do not try to get a fine sight but see both the sights plainly 
and practice bringing the rifle to your face until the sights 
will always come in line and in the same place. 

The farth^rr an object drops, the faster it travels, consequent- 
ly after a target has fallen 10 or 15 ft., you must hold from 5 
to 6 ft. below it according to the weight of the object and the 
velocity at which your ball is flying. 

With a .22, you must hold nearly twice as far under as with 
a .44 and in shooting two or three times at a tin while in the 
air, different calculations must be made for each shot and that 
at almost lightning speed. 

Nothing but constant and careful practice will make a good 
snap shot of you and until th? rifle can be operated and tired 
at objects in the air without a thought, or being conscious of 
pulling the trigger, you will never become an expert. 

A steel ball is made for this work which rings when hi^ but 
is yery dangerous, as the bullets glance froaa it and your as- 
sistant is liable to get a "spatter" of lead. 

I might write out e^ery motion and explain every shot, but 
it would be of no help to you, as each person must learn these 
things for himself. 

Coin shooting is the hardest of any snap shooting, as the 
object is small and the holder hardly ever gets two alike in one 
show, to toss up. Consequently they are tossed uneven and on 
the curve. In coin shooting I use a .44 repeater, as it punches 
a hole through a coin when a ,22 would only dent it. 

Another object in using a .44 is that it makes more report 
and attracts more attention. 

A ,44 will generally knock a quarter out of sight, as the coin 



38 

is so light it will fold around the ball and go ahead of it rather 
than be punctured, while a half dollar will only fly a few 
yards and fall to the ground with a piece cut out, if hit on 
the edge, or a hole through it if hit near the center. 

By the curve, I mean that the coin or target does not travel 
up and down on a perpendicular line, which calls for another 
quick calculation on the part of the shooter to get directly 
under it. 

Some people shoot while moving the rilie and others hold it 
nearly still while firing the shot. I prefer the latter style. 

In firing three or four shots at one target, one shot must be 
fired on the way up, one at the top and the others as you can 
catch them. 

I have seen a quart tin hit four times at one toss. 

A very quick shot is to drive a ball or block out of the water 
with one shot and hit it with the next while in the air, but a 
large calibre rifle must be used. 

All kinds of contortions, positions etc. in exhibition shoot- 
ing are p^ in to suit the shooter's taste and with a little prac- 
tice are just as easy as shooting from the shoulder. 

Shooting from the hip is all in practice and judgment, and 
one can acquire wonderful proficiency in a short time. 

Shooting with a card over the. muzzle is very simple and is 
done b}" shooting with both eyes open and the card seems to 
disappear. 

Always shoot every kind of fire arms with both eyes open as 
by closing one eye the range of vision is obstructed and the 
eye which you are sighting with is sure to squint. 

As an example of what can be acquired by practice I will 
cite one of my shots. 

I use a 12 ga. Winchester repeating shotgun at 40 ft. from a 
Baub trap and have broken 8 out of 10 targets blindfolded. 
This seems quite strong to the ordinary shooter ; but when 
the theory is explained it is quite simple. 



39 

The targets all fly in a straight line and turn within six 
inches of the same place, 

I get the bearings from a cleat nailed to the stage, which 
points directly towards the trap. 

My constant practice enables me to throw my gun up to the 
proper height and by counting 1-2-3-4, from "click" of the 
trap I get the cue for firing. 

Such shots, although very difficult are not appreciated by 
the average audience as they think there is some "fake" in it, 
and they want a man to break every target thrown in the air, 
regardless of its size, or the wind which may be blowing a gale 
if one is showing out doors. 

The "Wild West" costume and big hat which most shooters 
wear, do not make them cowboys, by any means ; but is mere- 
ly worn to attract attention and please the audience, as a man 
cannot give as good satisfaction doing a shooting act in a 
dress suit, as in a sporting costume. 

I do not know of a professional rifle or pistol shooter who is 
a cowboy or western man. 

Because a man comes from the west, he is generally sup- 
posed to be a fine shot ; but I never saw a western man who 
was a real fine shot with a revolver or a snap shot with a rifle. 

Some time ago an article appeared in "Shooting and Fishing" 
of Boston, on the "'The Proper and Absurd Use of the Eifle." 
and the author claimed that all exhibition and snap shooting 
should be abolished, etc. 

I claim that entertaining an audience with the rifle and pis- 
tol is just as legitimate a calling and use for those weapons as 
entertaining an audience with a violin, or on a trapeze, as com- 
paratively few people can acquire sufficient skill in any one 
direction to be able to entertain an intelligent and enlighten- 
ed audience, and when one possesses such si^ill, it should be 
cultivated to the highest possible degree. 



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LYMAN SIGHTS. 



The Best Sight ever put on any Fire Arm. 
MiiE FOR RIFLE, SHOT GUN, MD PISTOL- 



]N[o Arm is Complete WithoutThe 



M. 



Lyman's Patent Ful iiag Sij^lit for all Rifles. 



Lyman's Patent Ivory Revolver Sii^ht, 





■Prick, 50 Pents. 

Lyman's Patent Improved Ivory 
Hnnting Front Sii^bt. 




Price, <i.oo. r^ 

' -^ Pl^CE 50 CTS. 



J^RICE, §3 00. 



WILLIAM LYMAN, 

Mlddlefield, Conn, 



Note. -All Sights are warraatDd. Anything that is not perfect willb3 repla^ei or 
made good. 
No discount except to the tr.id ». 



Rifle Telescope ll 



a»2 

WITH ^-^^ . 



Op Siglit on top of Tolosoopo Tu^o j 



Makes a combination suitable for 

RUNNING SHOTS, 

OR 

^FINE*TA^GET*WORK. 

Wii:efor descriptive ciicular i^ivin^: full 
parlic.ul.jr.-^, to 



L. N. MOGG, 

Mfjr'r Rilie Telescopes, 
MARCELLUS, N.Y 



i 




The Leader of all llammerless Guns! 



THE IMPROVED LEFEVER. 



The only Gun in the world with Compens >ted Action to take up wear in every direc- 
tion. The best b;ihin(el, most sAmeirical and stioiig-est (jun made. Hts an un- 
excelled record tor pattern and penetration. Sp( c.^l alteiitiun given to borinj^ 
for trap and wikl-towl shooting. AH guns bored on the taper -ystem, giv- 
ing the greatest penetration and even distribution of shot.. 



The Columns of the Leading Sporting Papers have for Years Re- 
corded the Success of the LEFEVER GUN at the Trap, and its 
Triumph as a Prize Winner. 



Hammerless 



and Ejecting. 




The Finest Gun in the World* 



Simple in Cjns':ruction, Durable and Strong in Action, Un^^urpa s?J as Strong, 
Ao3ura e Shooters. 

^ YOU 55; ARE i NOT ^ IN ^ IT i^- 

UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN OJR NEW CATALOGUE. 

We want e e y lover of a good gun to hiv3 tliis citaloju}. We think you will le 
interested tD re rl \VH\T OTHERS SAY OF OUK GUN. 

LEFEVER ARMS CO., Syracuse, X. Y* 




T? A TT"R'Q T"^T? A "P ^^ ^^^ i^BsoLUTE necessity for any 

XVJlAt LJ X5 O -L X\/,-CLX biiiiif; Shooter. No as:<is'^ant required. 

It holds 25 clay or pasteboard tav^ots and throws them to any height and at any 
■mg-le. Traps and 50'j Targets, $6.00. Clay targets $5.00 per thousand. 

JOSEPH L. IIAUB, 

NEW LONDON, Ct 




MICHIGAN'S LARGEST GENERAL 






WHOLESALE and RETAJL- 

Guii Department.— Fire Am s, Ammunitit ii. Shooting Implements, Camping Out 
Furnishings, Fine Cutlery, etc., etc. 

Wishing Tackle I>eparttneht,— Yiue tiiclile of e.'cry description. 

Sporting Goods Dej^artitienf.—Base Ball, Lawn Tennis, and Sporting Goods for 
out and indoors. Also a comple e lin3 of Safeties. D^"illustr ited Piice List mailed 
on^receipt of 2 cents. 



:i^ (^e;ic£€e Av«nie. SAG1N.\W. EfstSide. 



"POINTERS" GIVEN AWAY 




• To all reac'ers of "C. A. D\mon's Bcok," who are lovers of the Uifle, Pisto', or 
Sliot Cjiiii}, or who take pleasure in hunting and desire to Economizp hy making 
their ovru A>ni,uiui!ion. We will send a cop 7 of "Til e Ideal Hasid-Boolt" ot 

useful information to Shooters. FItEK. This book will tell you what powder is 
best adap'ed to the different calibres, what shells to buy, and how to preserve them; 
how to make your own bullets, what alloy to use; how to use your moulds to get the 
best results; how to prepare your own ammunition that will be cUeapizr and more re- 
liable than factory cartridges. The book contains valuable tables giving the twists of 
the rifling in all arms as now m- deby the various arms manufacturers, also gives the 
names of all cartridges, their calibres, weight of powder, weight of buU3ts. their com- 
position and correct diameters. Table showing their measurements in thousandths ot 
an inch, and what arms they can be used in; table reducing drachms to gra ns, show- 
ing powder measurements for Eifles and Shot Guns, also how many shells of all the 
various calibres can be loaded with one pound of powder, the same with shot; how to 
And out the twist in any rifle barrel, etc. It also contains a full illustrated descriptive 
price list of all the Ideal Cartridge Reloading Tools, and much other useful informa- 
tion to Shooters. Arrangements have been made with C. A. Damon wherein we 
agree to mail a copy of the "Ideal Hand-Book" FREE, on lec ip^ of this advertise- 
ment enclosed with your name and address, with stamps for postage. 

Address IDEAL. I^IFG. CO., C. A. Drawer, New Haven, Conn, 



SMOKELESS POWDER. 

The only American Smokeless Powder is made 
by us. 

Our Trap Grade is used in a majority of the 
great matches. 

We refer to Charles Macalister, Esq., of Phila- 
delphia ; C. W. Budd, Des Moines, la.; J. R. Stice, 
Jacksonville, 111., or any other crack shot. 

AMERICAN WOOD POWDER Co., 

59 Wall Street, New York. 

Order through a dealer only. 




THE PARKER SHOT-GUN, 



HAMMER AND HAMMERLESS. 



The Oldest Manufacturers of 



Breech-Loading Shot-Guns 



JJV AMERICA. 



The Strongest Shooting Gun Made. 



PAEKER BROS., Meriden, Oonn. 



THE CELEBRATtU 



LIBRARY OF CONGRE^^^^^^ ^ 



020 237 072 A 



Smith & Wesson 



REVOLVERS! 




Are the choic3 ^ 
of all Experts 
for fine target 
work. 



Address for Catalogue 

and information, 



SMITH & WESSON, 



MEJDsTION THIS BOOK. 



SPKIXGFIELI), MASS. 



